Bizarre Ending Haunts Tyson

By STEVE SPRINGER

Oct. 24, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

LAS VEGAS — Orlin Norris can consider himself a lucky man. At least he left the ring Saturday night with both his ears intact.

His right knee, however, was another matter.

Norris limped back to the dressing room at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and then on to a local hospital with a twisted right knee after yet another bizarre finish to a Mike Tyson fight. The fight was stopped after the first round and ruled no-contest after Tyson hit Norris following the bell, injuring Norris’ knee and leaving Tyson, the former two-time heavyweight champion, saying he was ready to quit boxing and Tyson’s handlers charging that Norris was faking the injury.

That charge was refuted by ringside physician Flip Homansky, who, after examining Norris, said the fighter had swelling in the knee and problems with lateral movement.

So what did you expect, a fair fight? This is Mike Tyson we’re talking about.

Confusion, controversy and bedlam--all standard ingredients in a Tyson fight--were everywhere in the wild minutes after the round ended.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission withheld Tyson’s purse of $10 million pending an investigation but gave Norris his purse of $800,000.

At first, Norris, who was hit with a left hand by Tyson while referee Richard Steele was stepping in as the bell sounded, seemed to be uninjured. He walked back to his corner without assistance while Steele indicated to the crowd of 12,081 that he was deducting two points from Tyson’s score for his belated blow.

But then, when the minute break between rounds was over, Abel Sanchez, Norris’ trainer, indicated that his fighter wasn’t ready.

Homansky came over to examine Norris while Tyson strutted around the ring in anger.

“I didn’t hit him that hard,” Tyson told his manager, Shelly Finkel.

Homansky huddled with Marc Ratner, executive director of the commission. Dan Goossen, Tyson’s promoter, joined the huddle. The crowd grew restless.

And finally, the signal was given that the fight was over. Tyson’s infraction had been ruled an accidental foul, a curious decision since Steele, in deducting the points, had indicated the foul was not accidental.

Those who had paid between $100 and $1,000 to view the fight in person became the latest victims of the scam that passes for a Tyson appearance.

“He hit me after the bell and I just went down the wrong way on my knee,” said Norris before heading for Valley Hospital for an MRI exam.

But Tyson wasn’t buying it.

“How do I hit him in the jaw and he hurt his leg. He threw it,” said Tyson as he left the ring.

By the time he got to the interview area, Tyson’s anger was mixed with despair.

“Anyone who is a competitive person would continue,” Tyson said. “Even if you have a fractured leg, you continue.

“I’m just tired of this [bleep]. I’m just tired. I don’t want to fight anymore. I just came to give my best. I just came to give a show.

“He was walking back to his corner. That shows how hurt he was. He must have hurt himself sitting on his stool.”

Homansky said that it would take a minute or so for the swelling to occur and that could explain why Norris was able to walk to his corner. The doctor also said that Norris had had surgery on that knee.

It was the third consecutive Tyson fight to erupt in controversy. Against Evander Holyfield in their infamous 1997 rematch, Tyson bit both of Holyfield’s ears, resulting in Tyson’s disqualification. Last January against Francois Botha, Tyson tried to break Botha’s arm after the first round, but went on to get a fifth-round knockout.

Ratner said the commission would review the tape of the fight on Monday before considering any other action.

“What we have found,” Ratner said, “is that you never made hasty decisions. We will not make a rush to judgment.”

After the ear-biting incident, the commission revoked Tyson’s license for 15 months. He got his license back by promising to behave himself.

And now, this latest fiasco.

‘I’m just tired,” Tyson said. “I just want to go home.”